Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

While I accept the Minister did not provide a timeframe, the Taoiseach informed the House last week that it would take a couple of weeks to sort out this issue. If that is the case, it will be a first. I intend telling the affected pupils and teachers in counties Wexford, Carlow, Wicklow and Meath not to hold their breath. The liquidator, Mr. David Chapman, who is a civil servant working for the Insolvency Service of Ireland, has been appointed and is being advised by six special managers from the accountancy firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers. There will be wrangling on this issue until the cows come home because such liquidations are never sorted out quickly. I ask the Minister to give an honest indication of how long it will take.

Last week, the Taoiseach indicated the State owned the school buildings in question. I do not understand how that could be the case. While it may own part of them, how could the State own them if they were built by another entity that is owed a substantial amount of money?

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